Target: Marcus Hicks, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Corrections

Goal: Apologize and offer reparations to family of woman reportedly allowed to die of coronavirus-like symptoms in prison.

A 43-year old woman was reportedly allowed to die of coronavirus-like symptoms after being handcuffed in solitary confinement last month in yet another case of endangerment of prisoners’ health and safety amid the ongoing pandemic. Tiffany Mofield, a grandmother and a prisoner in New Jersey’s Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women, was nearing the end of a five year sentence when she began to show symptoms of coronavirus. Placed in quarantine for two weeks, she was then abruptly removed to solitary confinement. There she was allowed to die alone in a shower despite still showing symptoms of the illness, “after begging for about five minutes to be let out,” according to a fellow inmate.

Thirty-eight people have died of coronavirus in New Jersey’s prisons, making it one of the deadliest states for prisoners in the U.S. State officials have routinely ignored warnings that prison facilities were totally unprepared to protect the lives of people inside. Women like Ms. Mofield have paid the price with their lives. Sign below and demand that New Jersey disclose the circumstances surrounding her death and offer support to her family.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Commissioner Hicks,

The tragic death of Tiffany Mofield could have seemingly been avoided with compassionate, effective health procedures. At the time of her death, Ms. Mofield was clearly showing signs of suffering from coronavirus. Despite this, she was reportedly left alone in handcuffs in a small room, where she was allowed to die.

I demand that you inform her family of the circumstances surrounding her death and provide them support as they grieve. No matter what they’ve been convicted of, prisoners are human beings first, and they and their families deserve support and consideration during this unprecedented pandemic.